New Theatrical Drama: The Trial of Joan of Arc by Cynthia Pooler

My play, The Trial of Joan of Arc, is a politically charged drama pitting
Joan
of Arc against Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Bishop Cauchon is a politically
motivated priest and an English partisan, who is using the trial against
Joan
as a stepping stone for personal advancement within the Catholic
Church.
Contrasting Cauchon is Joan, a peasant whose simple faith in God is both
profound and unshakable. She is determined to fulfill the mission she
believes God has mandated to her.

In the early stages of my play Cauchon and his hand-picked churchmen
question
Joan about her youth and her motivation toward her mission. At every
opportunity Cauchon tries both to mock and discredit Joan.

Only one priest, Father Lohier, a lawyer visiting Rouen from Normandy,
sympathizes with Joan. As the trial progresses, Father Lohier becomes
enraged by the travesty against her. Lohier confronts Cauchon and
accuses
him of being politically motivated by using the Catholic Church to
declare
Joan a heretic so English power can be restored in France. Cauchon is
unrepentant and has Lohier forcibly thrown in a dark dungeon.

The second half of the trial is resumed in Joan's jail cell. What Joan
considers a "simple matter" is brought up, her refusal to wear a woman's
dress. As the trial progresses, Joan not only refuses to reject her
clothing, but after charges are read against her she repeatedly refuses
to
submit to the Church on Earth, who in her mind represents Cauchon and
the
trial against her.

After signing an abjuration in which Joan is led to believe that she
will be
sent to a Church Prison guarded by women, she is sentenced to perpetual
bread
and water under Cauchon's jurisdiction. Cauchon orders that her head be
shaven as penance and given a woman's dress "so that there will be
nothing of
your past life."

Alone in her cell Joan is continuously threatened and assaulted by
English
guards. She resumes her male clothing. When Cauchon enters her cell he
asks
why she rejected the woman's dress he had given her, she states, "The
abjuration I signed was against the truth. To save my life, I betrayed
God
and damned myself. I would rather die than suffer any longer the pain
of
being in this prison." Joan of Arc was taken to be burned at the
stake.

Richard Einhorn, who has written the musical score "Voices of Light" is
his
tribute to Joan of Arc. Mr. Einhorn has read my play and has given me
permission to use his score in my play.

Mr. Einhorn was inspired to write his musical tribute after viewing Carl
Dreyer's silent masterpiece, The Passion of Joan of Arc. Carl Dreyer's
movie
centers on Joan's trial and execution from a religious perspective.
Renee
Falconetti as Joan is considered the best filmed performance in the
history
of film. The Passion of Joan of Arc has recently been re-released with
Voices of Light as the musical background.

Since Mr. Einhorn's music is used in a film masterpiece about Joan's
trial
from a religious standpoint, I think it would be wonderful for Mr.
Einhorn's
music to be used in a theatrical play dealing with Joan's trial from a
political standpoint.

Ever since I was a young girl, she has been my inspiration. In my
earlier
days I marveled that she was a "woman of action." As I grew into
adulthood,
Joan has become more significant in my life. Joan of Arc throughout
history
has been used for many political movements, both left and right. She
has
been used politically in life and politically in death. I love Joan for
what
she was, a woman of strength, courage and intelligence. My love for her
is
as simple as the love she felt for her saints. I want other people to
be
inspired by her as much as I am. My greatest desire is for my play to
come to
life.

If you have any questions or comments you can contact the author at her
e-mail address. Cynthia Pooler at
cpooler152@aol.com Go up one level
Virginia Frohlickstjoan@nmia.com